Gospel: January 9, 2025
January 9, 2025 (Thursday)
Thursday After Epiphany
Psalter: Week 2 / (White)
Ps 72:1-2, 14 & 15bc, 17
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
1st Reading: 1 John 4:19–5:4
Gospel: Luke 4:14-22
Jesus acted with the power of the Spirit; and on his return to Galilee, the news about him spread throughout all that territory. He began teaching in the synagogues of the Jews and everyone praised him. When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, as he usually did. He stood up to read, and they handed him the book of the prophet Isaiah.
Jesus then unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me, to bring good news to the poor; to proclaim liberty to captives; and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed; and to announce the Lord’s year of mercy.” Jesus then rolled up the scroll, gave it to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he said to them, “Today, these prophetic words come true, even as you listen.” All agreed with him, and were lost in wonder, while he spoke of the grace of God. Nevertheless, they asked, “Who is this but Joseph’s Son?”
Reflection:
“Faith is the rock upon which we build our lives.”
“The world” for St. John the Evangelist signifies that which is opposed to God’s ways; that which tempts us to focus on self, rather than on loving God and our neighbor. Here John says, “the victory, which overcomes the world, is our faith.” The people in the Gospel show that faith as they agree with Jesus’ message and are “lost in wonder” at the marvels of God. But very quickly this trust and confidence in Jesus seem to evaporate, as they question his divinity, thinking only of his humble earthly background.
Our faith is key, too, in overcoming temptation since we depend upon the Lord for grace and wisdom, and so we need to keep trusting in Christ our savior, even when doubt starts to creep in. Faith is the rock upon which we build our lives, which allows us to see the bigger picture to human existence, a broader perspective which gives sense to the command to love and to be a co-worker with Christ in the work of pardon, justice, new hope and compassion, rather than living superficially. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. May our faith in him deepen, so that our love may become ever greater.
